John I. Leonard Favored In District

It will be difficult to match last year`s performance, but the John I. Leonard boys` cross country team should repeat its District 6-4A championship without a struggle Saturday at Okeeheelee Park.

On the girls` side, Spanish River is favored to win its third consecutive title. The girls` race will start at 9:15 a.m. and the boys` race at 9:45.

The District 7-3A meet in Jupiter will be without traditional power Cardinal Newman, which has dropped to Class 2A. District meets for Classes 1A and 2A are next week, with leaders advancing directly to state.

A year ago in Melbourne, John I. Leonard`s boys swept the top four places at the District 6-4A meet en route to the state title.

All of the Lancers` leaders are back, including district champion Jamie Fain and runner-up Chris Thomas, seniors who finished 1-2 at last week`s county meet. But No. 3 Leonard runner Ryan McNally is just rounding into form after an early-season leg injury.

Meanwhile, others such as Spanish River`s Shawn Hannan and Palm Beach Lakes` Chris Halliwell have improved. Hannan was third and Halliwell fourth at the county meet, ahead of McNally and Leonard`s Luis Ruiz.

The top six teams and top five individuals from each district qualify for next week`s regionals. Palm Bay and Palm Beach Lakes are expected to vie for second behind Leonard, with Spanish River, Boca Raton and Santaluces also challenging for regional berths.

Spanish River`s girls are led by Christina Hillert and Kristin Lawten, who finished third and fourth, respectively, at the county meet.

Last year`s district was a breakthrough meet for Hillert, who finished second and led the Sharks to their second straight title.

Spanish River finished second behind Cardinal Newman in the county meet last week, and Boca Raton was third. Boca`s Phoung Nguyen is among the individual district favorites.

Spanish River has never finished worse than third in eight years under coach Rick Rothman, who expects only Vero Beach to challenge his Sharks.

With Cardinal Newman and Laura Reback absent from District 7-3A, the girls` race is up for grabs. Lake Worth`s Janine Funder and Atlantic`s Tamara Ramsey are among the top individuals.

Sebring is the two-time defending boys` team champion, and Port St. Lucie should challenge for both the girls` and boys` titles.